I’m Boubacar Sidibe— International consultant dedicated to meat hygiene and veterinary public health in developing countries.

Personal Journey

• Born in Mali he had opportunities to study veterinary medicine in Soviet Union. I spent 17 years in Russia, learning the language and practicing veterinary medicine. Became the first Afro-Russian to open a small animal clinic in Moscow (photo) in 1995.

Challenges in Canada

• I faced difficulties upon arriving in Toronto, including financial struggles and language barriers, nonetheless successfully regained my veterinary license in Quebec and joined CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Agency)

• I worked 19 years with CFIA until my retirement in 2024

Contributions to Food Safety

• As a national manager, I developed the modernized slaughter inspection program approach, a significant reform in Canada meat hygiene practices

• Lead the creation of the ACIA Pathology Catalogue to aid veterinarians in decision-making during slaughter.

Advocacy for Food Safety

• I Advocate for increased farm surveillance by ACIA to enhance food safety and adept of the Veterinary Public Health approach (VPH)-the interface Human-Animal-environment health. “It reminds me of a quote from Pavlov, the great Russian physiologist: ‘If doctors treat people, veterinarians treat humanity.’ His words are a real source of inspiration for me.”

Social Responsibility:

• My journey from Mali to Canada via the Soviet Union/Russia is a testament to my perseverance, resilience, and gratitude in life. I believe in the importance of giving back to others and the planet. “The time has come to help the people elsewhere; it's another way of showing my gratitude for all the fascinating experiences I've been fortunate enough to have.”

My commitment:

• Provide high-quality training that will strengthen public health veterinary services by equipping veterinarians/veterinary technicians with the knowledge they need to effectively carry out their responsibilities in accordance with societal values at both the regional and national levels, in collaboration with local stakeholders. 

• Identify gaps in slaughterhouses and make recommendations on interventions (short/medium/long term) for gradual and sustainable upgrading in line with international standards and domestic realities.